WATERVILLE, Maine — The Mt. Blue girls soccer team left little doubt Tuesday.
After a heartbreaking loss in the second overtime against Waterville during the regular season, the Cougars made sure history didn’t repeat in the rematch.
Despite falling behind, the Cougars quickly rallied to tie it.
Then Mt. Blue struck twice late in the first half for a lead it would never relinquish in a 3-1 win. The Eastern A quarterfinal victory advances the Cougars to this weekend’s semifinal at Bangor.
“It was even in the first half,” said Mt. Blue coach Fred Conlogue, whose team lost in the quarterfinal last year.
“My defense just played amazing. They really limited their shots. Waterville only had two shots in the second half. I thought the defense really stepped it up.”
Senior Mackenzie Conlogue had two goals for Mt. Blue while freshman Eryn Dorion had a goal and an assist. Senior Chelsea Newhall had a pair of assists for the fifth-ranked Cougars (9-5-1).
Fourth-seeded Waterville (7-4-4) got a goal from Lydia Roy at 17:38 of the first half, but the Panthers’ lead was shortlived.
Doiron’s nice effort led to a tying goal soon after.
“We scored about a minute and a half after they scored on us,” said Conlogue.
“That was huge. She just kept running through it and finished it.”
Mt. Blue seized the momentum from there.
Conlogue’s goals both came late in the half, turning a 1-1 tie into a 3-1 lead in a span of less than three minutes.
“They were pretty goals,” said Conlogue. “She had one from about 30 yards out and the other was in off a corner kick.”
Her first tally came with 2:53 left in the half to break the tie. Then she struck again with 1:28 remaining.
“It was right before (Waterville coach) Ian (Wilson) could talk to them at the half, which is good,” said Conlogue.
From there the defense in front of netminder Gabby Foy was superb and didn’t give Waterville much chance to rally. Foy finished with five saves for the Cougars.